701 research outputs found
EXAMINING THE CRB INDEX AS AN INDICATOR FOR U.S. INFLATION
This paper analyzes historical movements in the commodity futures market and the relationship to inflation. Specifically, the relationship between the Commodity Research Bureau (CRB) Index and United States inflation is investigated. It is said that the relationship between the CRB index and the U.S. inflation rate was greater in the some periods than in another period. Then in recent times the CRB Index has proven to be a reliable early indicator of inflation. As the composition of the United States economy changes, the Commodity Research Bureau must make adjustments in order to provide a viable service.CRB index, Commodities Research Bureau, inflation, Vector Autoregression, Marketing, Public Economics, E00, E30,
Controlling formation of metal ion adducts and enhancing sensitivity in Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Formation of metal ion adducts in mass spectrometry, particularly in electrospray ionization liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS), is a nightmare scenario for an analyst dealing with quantitative analysis. We have studied in detail the metal adduct formation and concluded that the use of fluorinated alkanoic acids along with formic acid and volatile ammonium salts was extremely useful in suppressing metal adduct formation in positive ion mode of ESI-LC-MS. The extremely high electronegativity of fluorine atom and unique electrostatic nature of CâF bond coupled with stereo-electronic interactions with neighboring bonds or lone pairs enables the polyfluorinated alkanoic acids in trapping highly electropositive ions (Na+, K+) thereby letting proton do its job efficiently. Addition of formic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, heptafluorobutyric acid and ammonium acetate was found to be extremely effective in controlling metal ion adducts and producing [M+H]+ ions almost exclusively resulting in significant increase in the sensitivity. This technique has been successfully used in our laboratory for the estimation of targeted and nontargeted analysis of pesticides, marine toxins, drugs and pharmaceuticals etc. in various matrices including environmental waters using liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometer operated in all ion acquisition mode and triple quadruples (QQQ) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode
Limb splinting for intravenous cannulae in neonates: A randomised controlled trial
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of peripheral intravenous (IV) cannula site joint immobilisation by splint application on functional duration of peripheral IV cannula in neonates. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. Participants: Neonates requiring continuous IV infusion for an expected duration of more than or equal to 72 hours. Intervention: Eligible cannulations were randomised to either âsplintâ or âno-splintâ group. In the splint group, a cardboard splint was used to immobilise the joint at peripheral IV cannula site. No attempt was made to immobilise the limb in the no-splint group. Outcome measure: Functional duration of a peripheral IV cannula measured as interval from time of insertion to the development of predefined sign of removal (extravasation, blockage, inflammation). Results: A total of 69 peripheral IV cannulations in 54 neonates were randomised to either the splint (nâ=â33) or no-splint group (nâ=â36). Both groups were comparable in birth weight, gestation, site of cannulation and nature of fluids administered. Mean functional duration of cannula was lesser in the splint group compared to the no-splint group (h; 23.5 (SD15.9) vs 26.9 (SD15.5), mean difference: â3.3 h, 95% CI â11.02 to 4.3 h) although the difference was not statistically significant (pâ=â0.38). Extravasation at cannula site was found be the commonest indication for cannula removal in both the groups (84% vs 76.5%). Conclusion: Joint immobilisation with splint at cannula site did not improve the functional duration of peripheral IV cannula
The Landau-Ginzburg to Calabi-Yau Dictionary for D-Branes
Based on work by Orlov, we give a precise recipe for mapping between B-type
D-branes in a Landau-Ginzburg orbifold model (or Gepner model) and the
corresponding large-radius Calabi-Yau manifold. The D-branes in Landau-Ginzburg
theories correspond to matrix factorizations and the D-branes on the Calabi-Yau
manifolds are objects in the derived category. We give several examples
including branes on quotient singularities associated to weighted projective
spaces. We are able to confirm several conjectures and statements in the
literature.Comment: 24 pages, refs added + minor correctio
In-orbit Performance of UVIT on ASTROSAT
We present the in-orbit performance and the first results from the
ultra-violet Imaging telescope (UVIT) on ASTROSAT. UVIT consists of two
identical 38cm coaligned telescopes, one for the FUV channel (130-180nm) and
the other for the NUV (200-300nm) and VIS (320-550nm) channels, with a field of
view of 28 . The FUV and the NUV detectors are operated in the high
gain photon counting mode whereas the VIS detector is operated in the low gain
integration mode. The FUV and NUV channels have filters and gratings, whereas
the VIS channel has filters. The ASTROSAT was launched on 28th September 2015.
The performance verification of UVIT was carried out after the opening of the
UVIT doors on 30th November 2015, till the end of March 2016 within the
allotted time of 50 days for calibration. All the on-board systems were found
to be working satisfactorily. During the PV phase, the UVIT observed several
calibration sources to characterise the instrument and a few objects to
demonstrate the capability of the UVIT. The resolution of the UVIT was found to
be about 1.4 - 1.7 in the FUV and NUV. The sensitivity in various
filters were calibrated using standard stars (white dwarfs), to estimate the
zero-point magnitudes as well as the flux conversion factor. The gratings were
also calibrated to estimate their resolution as well as effective area. The
sensitivity of the filters were found to be reduced up to 15\% with respect to
the ground calibrations. The sensitivity variation is monitored on a monthly
basis. UVIT is all set to roll out science results with its imaging capability
with good resolution and large field of view, capability to sample the UV
spectral region using different filters and capability to perform variability
studies in the UV.Comment: 10 pages, To appear in SPIE conference proceedings, SPIE conference
paper, 201
Complementary feeding at 4 versus 6 months of age for preterm infants born at less than 34 weeks of gestation: a randomised, open-label, multicentre trial
Background Evidence on the optimal time to initiation of complementary feeding in preterm infants is scarce.
We examined the effect of initiation of complementary feeding at 4 months versus 6 months of corrected age on
weight for age at 12 months corrected age in preterm infants less than 34 weeks of gestation.
Methods In this open-label, randomised trial, we enrolled infants born at less than 34 weeks of gestation with no major
malformation from three public health facilities in India. Eligible infants were tracked from birth and randomly
assigned (1:1) at 4 months corrected age to receive complementary feeding at 4 months corrected age (4 month group), or
continuation of milk feeding and initiation of complementary feeding at 6 months corrected age (6 month group), using
computer generated randomisation schedule of variable block size, stratified by gestation (30 weeks or less, and
31â33 weeks). Iron supplementation was provided as standard. Participants and the implementation team could not be
masked to group assignment, but outcome assessors were masked. Primary outcome was weight for age Z-score at
12 months corrected age (WAZ12) based on WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study growth standards. Analyses were
by intention to treat. The trial is registered with Clinical Trials Registry of India, number CTRI/2012/11/003149.
Findings Between March 20, 2013, and April 24, 2015, 403 infants were randomly assigned: 206 to receive
complementary feeding from 4 months and 197 to receive complementary feeding from 6 months. 22 infants in the
4 month group (four deaths, two withdrawals, 16 lost to follow-up) and eight infants in the 6 month group (two deaths,
six lost to follow-up) were excluded from analysis of primary outcome. There was no difference in WAZ12 between
two groups: â1·6 (SD 1·2) in the 4 month group versus â1·6 (SD 1·3) in the 6 month group (mean difference 0·005,
95% CI â0·24 to 0·25; p=0·965). There were more hospital admissions in the 4 month group compared with the
6 month group: 2·5 episodes per 100 infant-months in the 4 month group versus 1·4 episodes per 100 infant-months
in the 6 month group (incidence rate ratio 1·8, 95% CI 1·0â3·1, p=0·03). 34 (18%) of 188 infants in the 4 month
group required hospital admission, compared with 18 (9%) of 192 infants in the 6 month group.
Interpretation Although there was no evidence of effect for the primary endpoint of WAZ12, the higher rate of hospital
admission in the 4 month group suggests a recommendation to initiate complementary feeding at 6 months over
4 months of corrected age in infants less than 34 weeks of gestation
The Challenges of Real-Time AI
The research agendas of two major areas of computer science are
converging: Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods are moving towards
more realistic domains requiring real-time responses, and real-time
systems are moving towards more complex applications requiring
intelligent behavior. Together, they meet at the crossroads of
interest in "real-time intelligent control," or "real-time AI." This
subfield is still being defined by the common interests of researchers
from both real-time and AI systems. As a result, the precise goals for
various real-time AI systems are still in flux. This paper describes
an organizing conceptual structure for current real-time AI research,
clarifying the different meanings this term has acquired for various
researchers. Having identified the various goals of real-time AI
research, we then specify some of the necessary steps towards reaching
those goals. This in turn enables us to identify promising areas for
future research in both AI and real-time systems techniques.
(Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-94-69
A New Abelisaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lameta Formation (Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of India
p. 1-42http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41259/2/C31-1.pd
Painful swollen leg â think beyond deep vein thrombosis or Baker's cyst
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of leg is very common in clinical practice. Not infrequently a range of pathologies are diagnosed after excluding a thrombosis, often after a period of anticoagulation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This is a report of three patients who presented with a painful swollen leg and were initially treated as a deep vein thrombosis or a baker's cyst, but later diagnosed as a pleomorphic sarcoma, a malignant giant cell tumor of the muscle and a myxoid liposarcoma. A brief review of such similar reports and the relevant literature is presented.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A painful swollen leg is a common clinical scenario and though rare, tumors must be thought of without any delay, in a duplex negative, low risk deep vein thrombosis situation.</p
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