Falcon Commons (Univ. of Texas Permian Basin)
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Xanthine oxidoreductase inhibition – A review of computational aspect
No full textXanthine Oxidoreductase (XOR) exists in a variety of organisms from bacteria to humans and catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and from xanthine to uric acid. Excessive uric acid could lead to gout and hyperuricemia. In this paper, we have reviewed the recent computational studies on xanthine oxidase inhibition. Computational methods, such as molecular dynamics (molecular mechanics), quantum mechanics, and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM), have been employed to investigate the binding affinity of xanthine oxidase with synthesized and isolated nature inhibitors. The limitations of different computational methods for xanthine oxidase inhibition studies were also discussed. Implications of the computational approach could be used to help to understand the existing arguments on substrate/product orientation in xanthine oxidase inhibition, which allows designing new inhibitors with higher efficacy
Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra for ladder cuprates
No full textThe ladder compound Sr14Cu24O41 is of interest both as a quasi-one-dimensional analog of the superconducting cuprates and as a superconductor in its own right when Sr is substituted by Ca. In order to model resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra for this compound, we investigate the simpler SrCu2O3 system in which the crystal structure contains very similar ladder planes. We approximate the LDA dispersion of SrCu2O3 by a Cu only two-band tight-binding model. Strong correlation effects are incorporated by assuming an anti-ferromagnetic ground state. The available angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and RIXS data on the ladder compound are found to be in reasonable accord with our theoretical predictions
Socio-Psychological Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Community Health and Well-Being
No full textAt the core of the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) debate is the level of perceived risk involved with extractive industries, such as the release of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, increased population growth, and truck traffic. However, industry supporters of fracking acclaim the benefits of oil and gas drilling, such as energy independence and economic gains. In this study, we examine the perceived impacts of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on community health and well-being based on interviews with anti-fracking activists in Denton, Texas who were active in the “anti-fracking” community organization, Frack Free Denton (FFD). Emergent from the interviews, we discuss the socio-psychological stressors these community members experienced following the introduction of hydraulic fracturing in the region. Some of the major socio-psychological impacts included perceived physical health risks through anxiety surrounding toxins and carcinogens that may be released through this process. Participants also discussed stress put on community relations, primarily through the form of an “us vs. them” mentality related to the support for, or opposition to, fracking in the community. Moreover, we found anxiety and stress surrounding trust in community members’ relationships with governing bodies, such as the federal government, state government, and local governments. This research will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of how fracking can impact the socio-psychological well-being of the community
Technology Management in Central American Maquilas
No full textThis study of four individuals managing technology transfer, implementation, and support in the Central American manufacturing facilities of US multinational corporations provides empirical support for five of six daily technology management activities (Acquisition, Exploitation, Identification, Learning, Protection, and Selection) suggested by Cetindamar, Phaal, and Probert (2016). The technology managers accomplished their jobs through communication and learning activities as multilingual boundary spanners in the interorganizational network by facilitating the transfer of tacit, explicit, and codified knowledge. As repositories of special information in the organization’s transactive memory system, they exercised referent and expert power making them more influential than one would expect based on their position in the global organizational hierarchy
On the optimization of water-energy nexus in shale gas network under price uncertainties
No full textThis study develops a framework for water-energy nexus optimization in shale gas production and distribution network under uncertainty. Sustainable design of the network is achieved through treatment of wastewater using thermal membrane distillation, whereby a comprehensive design model is integrated within the network to account for energy requirement of the unit. The proposed model also accounts for the problem of scheduling hydraulic fracturing using a continuous time formulation. Various uncertainties are associated with the network. Among different uncertain variables, uncertainties associated with price and demand are crucial as they can affect the optimal configuration significantly. Incorporation of uncertainty in the model seeks to meet the demand of natural gas consumers whilst accounting for the uncertainties associated with the price of final products. Uncertainties are modelled via randomly generated scenarios using beta distribution of the price generated using historical data. The stochastic model is applied to a case study through the maximization of net profit. Three different scenarios are considered for analysis. Results from the three different scenarios show 14.39%, 11.49%, and 12.34% increase in profit respectively as compared to the deterministic approach. Solving all the scenarios together gives an ensemble-average solution with 13.74% increase in expected profit. Savings in the freshwater requirement for fracturing and the energy associated with water management amounted to 23.2% and 42.7%, respectively
Are controlled companies underperforming?
No full textResearch Question: Are controlled companies underperforming in the United States? Motivation: Anecdotal evidence shows that the average market capitalization of controlled firms increased from 20.6 billion in 2015. Given the rapid increase in capitalization, the group of controlled companies has become an important player in the US capital market. However, little is known about controlled companies. Idea: We examine whether controlled companies are underperforming relative to noncontrolled companies in the United States. Data: The data sample consists of 351 listed companies in the United States for the fiscal year 2014. Tools: 176 controlled companies were manually collected by performing the keyword search “controlled company” from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) website via “www.seekedgar.com/”. Specifically, we search “controlled company” from proxy statement DEF 14A. Each controlled company is verified after reading through the proxy statement. Findings: Using 176 controlled companies and 176 random sampled non-controlled companies, we find that controlled companies are underperforming compared to noncontrolled companies. Contribution: To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to collect the group of controlled companies in the US and we are among the first to study how firm performs under the type II agency problem (Pantzalis et al. 1998). We contribute to the stream of literature on how ownership structure (e.g., family-controlled firms) affects firm performance (Anderson & Reeb, 2003). Consistent with the findings from family-controlled firms, we show that ownership structure affects firm performance. Out study sheds light on the important role of controlled companies in the US capital market
The influence of independent contractors on organizational effectiveness: A review
No full textThe use of independent contractors has steadily increased over the past two decades. However, relatively little research has examined contractors\u27 effectiveness and the studies that do often report contradictory findings of contractors\u27 value. The inconsistent findings result from the broad definition of effectiveness employed in these studies, stretched across various types of nonstandard workers (including contract, part-time, seasonal, and temporary work) and both individual- and firm-levels of analysis. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative review is to untangle the empirical findings on contractor effectiveness for both workers and firms. We adapt Meyer, Becker, and Van Dick\u27s (2006) integrative model of situated and deep structure identities to organize current findings on contractor effectiveness in three categories, namely contractor attitudes and behaviors, operational outcomes, and firm financial outcomes. Our effectiveness model further highlights how select identity-relevant social influences and situational contingencies impact contractor effectiveness. We conclude with research and practical implications of the model of contractor effectiveness
Hexadecane Petroleum, and Biofuel Utilization in Marine Bacteria Isolated from Ballast Tanks
Get PDFThis study characterized the growth of bacteria isolated from ballast tank fluids in hexadecane, petroleum, plant, and algae-derived fuels. The study was performed to explore the capacity of ballast tank isolates to survive and grow within fuels that may be stored within ballast tanks. Results of the hexadecane analysis indicated that most isolates had higher viable cell counts in media supplemented with hexadecane. Members of Alteromonas, Pseudoalteromonas, and a single Brevundimonas species had viable cell counts that were one or several orders ofmagnitude greater than that of controls. Results offuel analysis indicated higher viable cell counts in pure JP-5 and F-76 petroleum, as well as a modest growth increase in camelina-based JP-5 biofuel for members of Alteromonas. Bacillus aquimaris TF-12 and the unclassified isolate, SD32, had a pronounced decrease in growth under all the fuel conditions, with the sole exception of elevated growth in hexadecane. Halomonas axialensis Althfl demonstrated substantial growth in all the tested conditions, especially in JP-5 camelina and F-76 algal biofuels, while the unclassified isolate, denoted as (-)ve, had significantly decreased bacterial growth in pure JP-5 and F-76 petroleum and elevated growth in both biofuels. Given the diverse growth trends of the tested isolates, future studies will include GC-MS analysis to directly measure hydrocarbon utilization