7,480 research outputs found
Evolution or revolution? Reflecting on IA effectiveness in Thailand
No full textThis paper investigates whether the Thai impact assessment (IA) system should develop through revolution or evolution. A timeline of the Thai IA system is mapped to show its development to date. Aspects of effectiveness (i.e. procedural, substantive, transactive, and legitimacy) are then used as the benchmark against which to evaluate past IA practice in terms of strengths, limitations and challenges. IA practice is analysed both in terms of the people within the IA system and the IA system itself, as both are considered key elements in making IA work. The findings suggest that the ongoing evolution of the IA system has continued to improve its procedural, substantive and transactive effectiveness; therefore, suggesting that continuing evolution is sufficient to deliver these dimensions of effectiveness. However, the findings also indicate that it is the people in the IA system that influence practice and arbitrate legitimacy. Developing the system over time has not significantly improved legitimacy, leading to the conclusion that gaining legitimacy in the IA process might need some elements of revolution
Catch-bond mechanism of the bacterial adhesin FimH
No full textLigand-receptor interactions that are reinforced by mechanical stress, so-called catch-bonds, play a major role in cell-cell adhesion. They critically contribute to widespread urinary tract infections by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These pathogens attach to host epithelia via the adhesin FimH, a two-domain protein at the tip of type I pili recognizing terminal mannoses on epithelial glycoproteins. Here we establish peptide-complemented FimH as a model system for fimbrial FimH function. We reveal a three-state mechanism of FimH catch-bond formation based on crystal structures of all states, kinetic analysis of ligand interaction and molecular dynamics simulations. In the absence of tensile force, the FimH pilin domain allosterically accelerates spontaneous ligand dissociation from the FimH lectin domain by 100,000-fold, resulting in weak affinity. Separation of the FimH domains under stress abolishes allosteric interplay and increases the affinity of the lectin domain. Cell tracking demonstrates that rapid ligand dissociation from FimH supports motility of piliated E. coli on mannosylated surfaces in the absence of shear force
Consumption, Wealth, Stock and Government Bond Returns: International Evidence
No full textIn this paper, we show, from the consumer’s budget constraint, that the residuals of the trend relationship among consumption, aggregate wealth, and labour income should predict both stock returns and government bond yields. We use data for several OECD countries and find that when agents expect future stock returns to be higher, they will temporarily allow consumption to rise. Regarding government bond yields, when bonds are seen as a component of asset wealth, then investors react in the same way. If, however, the increase in the yields is perceived as signalling a future rise in taxes, then they will temporarily reduce their consumption.consumption, wealth, stock returns, bond returns.
Danza y Co-creatividad kinestésica Humano-IA
No full textHuman-machine interaction in dance is not a new phenomenon, however, the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years allows new scenarios where novel methods of creative collaboration between human and artificial intelligence are proposed. From an interdisciplinary approach, this article provides an analysis of different software for choreographic creation and synthesises the findings from the creative collaboration between the author and an AI dancer, which were presented at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge (UK). The author concludes that in order to co-create dance with an AI, it is not enough to simply use it, but it must enable an experience in which the human and machine can be exposed to a mutual influence that is not limited to logical reasoning, but is based on kinaesthetic intuition.La interacción humano-maquina en la danza no es un fenómeno nuevo, sin embargo, la evolución de la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) en los últimos años permite nuevos escenarios donde se plantean novedosos métodos de colaboración creativa entre la inteligencia humana y la artificial. Desde un enfoque interdisciplinario, este artículo provee un análisis de distintos softwares para la creación coreográfica y sintetiza los hallazgos provenientes de la colaboración creativa entre el autor y un bailarín de IA, los cuales fueron presentados en el Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence en la Universidad de Cambridge (Reino Unido). El autor concluye que para co-crear danza con una IA no basta con utilizarla, sino que es fundamental propiciar una experiencia donde el humano y la maquina puedan exponerse a una influencia mutua que no se limite al razonamiento lógico, sino que se base en la intuición kinestésica
Impact assessment for the twenty-first century–rising to the challenge
No full textThe future of impact assessment has to contend with global megatrends, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, that are set to change the face of the planet, and with the neoliberal economy, and the implications this has for trade-offs in decision-making under the umbrella of ‘sustainable development’. Together these challenges have implications for human health and well-being, and biodiversity. In this letter, we set out these challenges, before moving onto the solutions that are needed to rise to them. These include: formalising technology assessment processes and/or the inclusion of emerging technologies within the scope of legislated IA processes; a move towards legislated substantive outcomes, rather than enforcement of procedure only; and ensuring that the framing of IA goals are based on societal definitions of sustainability
First in the Nation in Education : Final Report,1984.
No full textThis report is one step in an ongoing process of change and is a plea for commitment for high standards in education in Iowa. Contains the final reports of the six subcommittees as adopted by the Excellence in Education Task Force, and the five recommendations made by the Task Force
A contribution to the conceptualisation of quality in impact assessment
No full textQuality is much sought after in, and a basic foundation for, good impact assessment (IA). However, the term is rarely defined, has an uncertain relationship with IA effectiveness, and it means different things to different stakeholders, which can lead to debates over the legitimacy associated with an IA process. Thus, IA quality needs conceptualising to position research and practice within broader understandings. This paper contributes to this conceptualisation by identifying nine dimensions of quality through a process of literature review drawing on three fields of study in which quality and quality management have already been debated and conceptualised: education; health care; and business. This approach sidesteps the plural views on quality existing within the field of IA itself which might otherwise bias the identification of quality dimensions. We therefore propose that the dimensions of IA quality are: Efficiency; Optimacy; Conformance; Legitimacy; Equity; Capacity Maintenance; Transformative Capacity; and Quality Management. A literature review of IA research and practice confirms the relevance of the identified quality dimensions to IA. We identify, to an extent, the relationship between quality and effectiveness. Quality aligns with procedural and transactive effectiveness, partly aligns with normative effectiveness and is distinct from, but helps to deliver, substantive effectivenes
Application of the IS-MP-IA model to the German economy and policy implications
No full textExtending the IS-MP-IA model developed by Romer (2000) and applying the GARCH (Engle, 1982, 2001) methodology, the author finds that equilibrium GDP in Germany is positively affected by stock market performance and real exchange rate appreciation, and negatively influenced by the expected inflation rate, the government deficit/GDP ratio, and the U.S. federal funds rate. The relatively low deficit/GDP ratio of 1.83% in 2003 indicates that its fiscal condition was healthy. However, some other EU members may need to exercise fiscal discipline. Because real appreciation has a positive impact on output, a stronger euro may not be a concern for Germany but may be worried by those EU member nations which depend upon exports to stimulate their economies.
Mechanism of Type IA Topoisomerases
No full textTopoisomerases in the type IA subfamily can catalyze change in topology for both DNA and RNA substrates. A type IA topoisomerase may have been present in a last universal common ancestor (LUCA) with an RNA genome. Type IA topoisomerases have since evolved to catalyze the resolution of topological barriers encountered by genomes that require the passing of nucleic acid strand(s) through a break on a single DNA or RNA strand. Here, based on available structural and biochemical data, we discuss how a type IA topoisomerase may recognize and bind single-stranded DNA or RNA to initiate its required catalytic function. Active site residues assist in the nucleophilic attack of a phosphodiester bond between two nucleotides to form a covalent intermediate with a 5\u27-phosphotyrosine linkage to the cleaved nucleic acid. A divalent ion interaction helps to position the 3\u27-hydroxyl group at the precise location required for the cleaved phosphodiester bond to be rejoined following the passage of another nucleic acid strand through the break. In addition to type IA topoisomerase structures observed by X-ray crystallography, we now have evidence from biophysical studies for the dynamic conformations that are required for type IA topoisomerases to catalyze the change in the topology of the nucleic acid substrates
On legitimacy in impact assessment: An epistemologically-based conceptualisation
No full textImpact assessment (IA) is carried out as an ex ante process to inform decision-making. It includes requirements for engagement with stakeholders (including the public) regarding actions proposed by a proponent. A key issue with the various stakeholders involved is the perceived legitimacy of the IA, which can have implications both for the reputation of the proponent, and the likelihood of conflict over the decision. But the understanding of legitimacy in the IA literature has changed over time in line with an ontological shift from positivism (that scientifically generated information leads to better informed decisions) to the post-positivist acknowledgement of the limitations of scientific method whereby assumptions must be subject to transparency, deliberation and openness. This has led to an epistemological shift towards greater subjectivism which, we suggest, has created new opportunities (which have been realised in political decision-making) to subvert knowledge through the increased use of the Internet and social media. To address the potential for such subversion of legitimacy, we seek to conceptualise legitimacy in the IA context through framing IA around a critical realist ontology and a reliabilist virtue epistemology. This allows us to identify ‘knowledge legitimacy’ as an equally important component of IA legitimacy along with organisational legitimacy. We conceptualise knowledge legitimacy through literature review drawing on rich understandings of knowledge from IA and other fields of research in order to develop a four-dimensional typology. This includes the dimensions of: knowledge accuracy; knowledge restriction; knowledge diffusion; and knowledge spectrum. This is the first theoretically grounded attempt to understand legitimacy in IA. It is hoped that it will provoke discussion in the IA community to further advance theoretical understandings of IA and legitimacy of practice
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