Inequality and a repeated joint project

Agents voluntarily contribute to an infinitely repeated joint project. We investigate the conditions for cooperation to be a renegotiation-proof and coalition-proof equilibrium before examining the influence of output share inequality on the sustainability of cooperation. When shares are not equally distributed, cooperation requires agents to be more patient than under perfect equality. Beyond a certain degree of share inequality, full efficiency cannot be reached without redistribution. This model also explains the coexistence of one cooperating and one free-riding coalition. In this case, increasing inequality can have a positive or negative impact on the aggregate level of effort.

Rehabilitation of Deaf-Blind Persons. A Joint Project of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Industrial Home for the Blind

Mode of access: Internet.

Behaviour of a dovetail joint solved using force analyses

Dovetail joints are one of the most cornrnonly used joints during Gothic and Baroque periods. Despite being coristructed in the sarne way during the ages, there is no analyticai solution available to help its analysis and design so required in reconstruction works of existing timber structures. An analytical solution based on the principie of virtual works under different types of loading is presented in this paper as weli as differences in bearing capacity of the joint for chosen types of loading, when different wood species are used. The accuracy of the presented solution is confirrned by data obtained from experimental tests of scaied modeis of a dovetail joint.

Single Axis Controlled Hybrid Magnetic Bearing for Left Ventricular Assist Device: Hybrid Core and Closed Magnetic Circuit

In previous studies, we presented main strategies for suspending the rotor of a mixed-flow type (centrifugal and axial) ventricular assist device (VAD), originally presented by the Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology (IDPC), Brazil. Magnetic suspension is achieved by the use of a magnetic bearing architecture in which the active control is executed in only one degree of freedom, in the axial direction of the rotor. Remaining degrees of freedom, excepting the rotation, are restricted only by the attraction force between pairs of permanent magnets. This study is part of a joint project in development by IDPC and Escola Politecnica of Sao Paulo University, Brazil. This article shows advances in that project, presenting two promising solutions for magnetic bearings. One solution uses hybrid cores as electromagnetic actuators, that is, cores that combine iron and permanent magnets. The other solution uses actuators, also of hybrid type, but with the magnetic circuit closed by an iron core. After preliminary analysis, a pump prototype has been developed for each solution and has been tested. For each prototype, a brushless DC motor has been developed as the rotor driver. Each solution was evaluated by in vitro experiments and guidelines are extracted for future improvements. Tests have shown good results and demonstrated that one solution is not isolated from the other. One complements the other for the development of a single-axis-controlled, hybrid-type magnetic bearing for a mixed-flow type VAD.

Preface and Acknowledgments

This volume is a joint project undertaken by three scholars from diverse backgrounds around the world. In the following, I trace the history of this project from a personal perspective and acknowledge the contributions of those who have been involved.

Environmental life cycle assessment of concrete made with fine recycled concrete aggregates

The majority of worldwide structures use concrete as its main material. This happens because concrete is economically feasible, due to its undemanding production technology and case Of use. However, it is widely recognized that concrete production has a strong environmental impact in the planet. Natural aggregates use is one of the most important problems of concrete production nowadays, since they are obtained from limited, and in some countries scarce, resources. In Portugal, although there are enough stone quarries to cover coarse aggregates needs for several more years, Supplies of fine aggregates are becoming scarcer, especially in the northern part of the country. On the other hand, as concrete structures' life cycle comes to an end, an urgent need emerges to establish technically and economically viable solutions for demolition debris, other than for use as road base and quarry fill. This paper presents a partial life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete made with fine recycled concrete aggregates performed with EcoConcrete tool. EcoConcrete is a tailor-made, interactive, learning and communications tool promoted by the Joint Project Group (JPG) on the LCA of concrete, to qualify and quantify the overall environment impact of concrete products. It consists of an interactive Excel-spreadsheet in which several environmental inputs (material quantities, distances from origin to production Site, production processes) and outputs (material, energy, emissions to air, water, soil or waste) are collected in a life cycle inventory, and are then processed to determine the environmental impact (assessment) of the analysed concrete, in terms of ozone layer depletion, smog or "greenhouse" effect.

Share the fame or share the blame? The reputational implications of partnerships

We use an adverse selection model to study the dynamics of firms' reputations when firms implement joint projects. We show that in contrast with projects implemented by a single firm, in the case of joint projects a firm's reputation does not necessarily increase following a success and does not necessarily decrease following a failure. We also study how reputation considerations affect firms ' decisions to participate in joint projects. We show that a high quality partner may not be preferable to a low quality partner, and that a high reputation partner is not necessarily preferable to a low reputation partner.

L'aprenentatge basat en problemes en models híbrids de docència-aprenentatge

La Facultat de Ciències de la Salut i de la Vida ha utilitzat des de 2004 la metodologia d'aprenentatge basat en problemes (en endavant ABP) com a mètode docent en els seus estudis de Biologia. En aquest període hem après algunes de les claus de l'aplicació del mètode en els nostres estudis. En primer lloc, cal disposar d'elements formatius que afavoreixin la formació dels tutors que participin en el projecte. Per assolir aquest objectiu hem dissenyat un portal on els nostres professors poden disposar de materials útils per a la seva activitat, així com de documents que permetin entendre millor el que suposa l'ABP. En segon lloc, el projecte tenia l'objectiu de dissenyar i avaluar activitats que permetessin integrar les pràctiques de laboratori en la lògica de la resolució de problemes pròpia de l'ABP. En aquest sentit vam dissenyar dues activitats en el tercer curs de la llicenciatura que anomenaren aprenentatge basat en el laboratori (ABL). Per aquest motiu es van dissenyar problemes que tinguessin una primera part de resolució a l'aula en grup de tutoria i una segona que obligués els estudiants a realitzar experiments de laboratori dirigits a entendre i resoldre les qüestions plantejades al grup de tutoria. L'ABL-1 fou un projecte de biologia cel·lular i destinat a aprofundir en els mecanismes implicats en els fenòmens de diferenciació dels miòcits. L'ABL-2 era un projecte conjunt dels professors de Fisiologia vegetal, Bioestadística i Microbiologia. En aquest cas es desitjava que els estudiants plantegessin la resolució a un problema que suposava la manipulació genètica de cèl·lules vegetals per fer possible que produïssin una substància específica, l'escopolamina. Finalment els estudiants havien d'escriure un article original com a projecte final de cada ABL. Els resultats dels dos anys d'experimentació han esta altament satisfactoris, d'acord amb les enquestes completades per alumnes i professors.

A review of coccidiostat residues in poultry

safefood, the Food Safety Promotion Board, is responsible for increasing food safety awareness and for supporting north/south scientific co-operation. safefood is currently funding a project entitled "Poultry Meat: improving food safety by improving chemical residue surveillance". This joint project between the Veterinary Sciences Division, Queen's University, Belfast and the National Food Centre, Teagasc, Dublin, is addressing the problem of anti-coccidial drug residues in poultry meat and eggs through an all-island research and residue testing initiative. The project started in 2001 and will continue until 2004. Poultry have a high susceptibility to the parasitic disease, coccidiosis. Because of this susceptibility, veterinary drugs, commonly known as coccidiostats are routinely used in intensively-reared poultry. The coccidiostats are potent drugs and, where residues occur in food, they may exacerbate certain coronary disease conditions. It is important, therefore, for poultry and egg producers to prevent the occurrence of residues of coccidiostats in food products.

Propuesta para un Proyecto de Evaluación de Stocks de Camarón de Profundidad en aguas de Cabo Verde (2010-2013)

A bibliographic revision on the fisheries research in the Canary, Madeira, and the Azores Islands related to stock assessment of the striped soldier shrimp (Plesionika edwardsii) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pandalidae) was made. Biological information –reproduction, growth, mortality, recruitment– of the target species, selective technological developments –multiple semi-floating shrimp traps–, and know-how gained by the ICCM can give support to elaborate and execute an ICCM-INDP joint project, in order to explore and assess its insular stocks in the Capeverdian deepwaters (150-300 m). In the frame of the UE Trans-national Cooperation Programme MAC (2007- 2013), the next coming call for proposals seems to be an adequate source to fund it. This project should include some activities for the valorisation and promotion of this new shellfish product, as well as for scientific-technical and social divulgation, and for giving advice to the decision-makers. Lastly, with the aim of developing a new fishing activity in the Cape Verdes on a responsible and sustainable basis, authors have scheduled a second study phase. This should consist of a process of technology transfer, followed by an experimental fishing pilot project including a study on biological and commercial viability with the participation of the Capeverdian fishing sector.

Iowa Innovators, January 2007

The “Iowa Innovators” series is a joint project of the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). The series is an outgrowth of an idea from member INA publishers. “Iowa Innovators” articles describe initiatives that Iowa communities have used to improve their ability to attract business and industry and demonstrate community innovation. The articles also describe Iowa companies on the leading edge of technology, business expansion, workforce development and recycling.

Iowa Innovators, March 2007

The “Iowa Innovators” series is a joint project of the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). The series is an outgrowth of an idea from member INA publishers. “Iowa Innovators” articles describe initiatives that Iowa communities have used to improve their ability to attract business and industry and demonstrate community innovation. The articles also describe Iowa companies on the leading edge of technology, business expansion, workforce development and recycling.

Iowa Innovators, May 2007

The “Iowa Innovators” series is a joint project of the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). The series is an outgrowth of an idea from member INA publishers. “Iowa Innovators” articles describe initiatives that Iowa communities have used to improve their ability to attract business and industry and demonstrate community innovation. The articles also describe Iowa companies on the leading edge of technology, business expansion, workforce development and recycling.

Iowa Innovators, July 2007

The “Iowa Innovators” series is a joint project of the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). The series is an outgrowth of an idea from member INA publishers. “Iowa Innovators” articles describe initiatives that Iowa communities have used to improve their ability to attract business and industry and demonstrate community innovation. The articles also describe Iowa companies on the leading edge of technology, business expansion, workforce development and recycling.