The Influence of Size and R&D on the Growth of Firms in the U.S.

This study examines the role of size and R&D in explaining the rate of growth of firms by testing Gibrat's law. In particular, this paper extends earlier studies, by addressing this question: Do the size-growth relationships and the consequent size-distribution of firms depend on whether or not the firms are operating in R&D-intensive industries? The empirical evidence indicates an affirmative answer to this question. Further, our results appear to refute Gibrat's law. Firm growth rates are autocorrelated. There also seems to be adequate evidence showing that larger firms have lower growth rates.Firm; Firms; R&D

Routine Use of Antimicrobials by Pregnant Indian Women Does not Improve Birth Outcome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Low birth-weight is a leading health problem in developing countries. In a randomized controlled trial, the effect of antimicrobials in pregnant women on improving birth-weight and duration of gestation was evaluated. Two hundred twenty-four pregnant women in their second trimester were randomized to receive metronidazole (200 mg 3 times daily for 7 days) and cephalexin (500 mg twice daily for 5 days) orally by one group. The mean (\ub1SD) birth-weights were 2,545 g (\ub1374) and 2,584 g (\ub1358, p= 0.51), the low birth-weight rates(<2.5 kg) were 40% and 36% (p=0.28), and the prematurity rates were 8% and 11% (p=0.6) in the treated group and the control group respectively. Due to small sample size, it is cautiously concluded that routine antimicrobials for genital and urinary tract infections of pregnant women do not improve birth-weight or duration of gestation. Rather an unexpected observation was the proportion requiring caesarian section or forceps, which was five-fold higher in the treated group (p= 0.001), and given no plausible explanations, this finding needs confirmation. Stunted mothers(<25th centile or 146.4 cm) had two-fold higher risk for low birth-weight (p=0.04) and assisted delivery (p= 0.1). Low maternal body mass index(<25th centile or 18) had six-fold higher risk for stillbirth or abortion (p= 0.007), and high body mass index(>75th centile or 21.2) had three-fold higher risk for assisted delivery (p=0.003)

Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology with Gravitational Waves

Gravitational wave detectors are already operating at interesting sensitivity levels, and they have an upgrade path that should result in secure detections by 2014. We review the physics of gravitational waves, how they interact with detectors (bars and interferometers), and how these detectors operate. We study the most likely sources of gravitational waves and review the data analysis methods that are used to extract their signals from detector noise. Then we consider the consequences of gravitational wave detections and observations for physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.Comment: 137 pages, 16 figures, Published version <http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2009-2

Search for neutral color-octet weak-triplet scalar particles in proton-proton collisions at √s= 8TeV

A search for pair production of neutral color-octet weak-triplet scalar particles (Θ0) is performed in processes where one Θ0 decays to a pair of b quark jets and the other to a Z boson plus a jet, with the Z boson decaying to a pair of electrons or muons. The search is performed with data collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at √s = 8TeV. The number of observed events is found to be in agreement with the standard model predictions. The 95% confidence level upper limit on the product of the cross section and branching fraction is obtained as a function of the Θ0 mass. The 95% confidence level lower bounds on the Θ0 mass are found to be 623 and 426 GeV, for two different octo-triplet theoretical scenarios. These are the first direct experimental bounds on particles predicted by the octo-triplet model

Characterization of a murine model of monocrotaline pyrrole-induced acute lung injury

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>New animal models of chronic pulmonary hypertension in mice are needed. The injection of monocrotaline is an established model of pulmonary hypertension in rats. The aim of this study was to establish a murine model of pulmonary hypertension by injection of the active metabolite, monocrotaline pyrrole.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Survival studies, computed tomographic scanning, histology, bronchoalveolar lavage were performed, and arterial blood gases and hemodynamics were measured in animals which received an intravenous injection of different doses of monocrotaline pyrrole.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Monocrotaline pyrrole induced pulmonary hypertension in Sprague Dawley rats. When injected into mice, monocrotaline pyrrole induced dose-dependant mortality in C57Bl6/N and BALB/c mice (dose range 6–15 mg/kg bodyweight). At a dose of 10 mg/kg bodyweight, mice developed a typical early-phase acute lung injury, characterized by lung edema, neutrophil influx, hypoxemia and reduced lung compliance. In the late phase, monocrotaline pyrrole injection resulted in limited lung fibrosis and no obvious pulmonary hypertension.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Monocrotaline and monocrotaline pyrrole pneumotoxicity substantially differs between the animal species.</p

The present gravitational wave detection effort

Gravitational radiation offers a new non-electromagnetic window through which to observe the universe. The LIGO and Virgo Collaborations have completed a first joint data run with unprecedented sensitivities to gravitational waves. Results from searches in the data for a variety of astrophysical sources are presented. A second joint data run with improved detector sensitivities is underway, and soon major upgrades will be carried out to build Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo with expected improvements in event rates of more than 1000. In parallel there is a vigorous effort in the radio pulsar community to detect nHz gravitational waves via the timing residuals in an array of pulsars at different locations in the sky.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/85430/1/jpconf10_203_012002.pd