Lumpy capital adjustment and technical efficiency

This paper investigates the impact of lumpy capital adjustment on productivity at the firm level using data on Japanese manufacturing industries. We estimate stochastic production frontiers, taking firm heterogeneity into account. We find that investment spikes are negatively related to technical efficiency. Furtermore, we find a negative relationship between machinery capital age and measured efficiency.

Vertical Ground Reaction Forces During Stair Descent Transition for Individuals with Femoroacetabular Impingement and Osteoarthritis

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a pathological condition characterized by the misshapen junction between the femoral head and acetabular rim causing joint friction. Not all individuals with FAI experience symptoms associated with the condition. Previous research has determined differences between those with and without symptomatic FAI (FAI-s) and those with and without osteoarthritis (OA) during stair ascent (Hammond et al., 2017 and Hall et al., 2017, respectively). No studies focused on stair descent ground reaction forces (GRFs) between individuals with FAI and/or OA exist. PURPOSE: This study analyzed key vertical GRF values during stair descent transition in adults with FAI-s, asymptomatic FAI (FAI-a) and OA. METHODS: Individuals were recruited by an orthopedic surgeon who used radiographs to assign group membership (FAI-s n=10, FAI-a n=11, OA n=10). Each person descended a 3-step staircase onto a Kistler force plate embedded into the floor (1000 Hz). The stair to floor transition was analyzed for three trials for each foot contact. Peak vertical impact and active forces (Fz1 and Fz2, respectively) were normalized by BW and the three trial average was analyzed. Dependent and independent t-tests were used to compare transition feet and groups (p \u3c 0.05). RESULTS: There were no differences for any group when comparing transition feet for Fz1 or Fz2 values. Additionally, there were no differences between the feet associated with the affected and unaffected hips for the FAI-s group. When comparing the larger and smaller Fz1 values for each person, all groups had a significant difference (p \u3c 0.005 for all). The FAI-s group had smaller Fz1 values than FAI-a group for both the left and right foot transition (1.57 ± 0.34 BW vs. 1.81 ± 0.20 BW, p=0.035 and 1.62 ± 0.23 BW vs 1.81 ± 0.13 BW, p=0.019, respectively). There was a trend toward Fz1 values being smaller for FAI-s when compared to OA for both foot transitions (p \u3c 0.08). There were no differences between the FAI-a and OA groups for Fz1 values and no differences between Fz2 values between any of the groups for either transition foot. CONCLUSION: Individuals with symptomatic FAI transition from stairs to floor with smaller impact forces when compared to the other groups, perhaps to avoid painful hip conditions. All participants had asymmetrical impact transition forces

한국인에서 대정맥-심방접합부를 겨냥한 중심정맥도관의 깊이 예측을 위한 임상연구

학위논문 (석사) -- 서울대학교 대학원 : 의과대학 의학과, 2020. 8. 민승기.Introduction: Central venous catheters (CVC) should be positioned at the cavoatrial junction (CAJ) or the right atrium. If catheters are inserted to a depth derived by adding the distance between the skin insertion point and the clavicular notch and the distance between the clavicular notch and the carina, the catheter tip can be placed near the carina. Based on that, this study aims to make a formula to place a catheter tip near the CAJ. Methods: This prospective nonrandomized interventional study included patients who needed a CVC from June 2017 to July 2018. The location of the CAJ was identified using a fluoroscopic technique. The following variables were measured: D1, the distance between the skin insertion point and the clavicular notch; D2, the vertical distance between the clavicular notch and the carina; and α, the vertical distance between the carina and the CAJ. Results: A total of 70 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 65.5 ± 11.6 years and 62.9% were male. The mean D1 and D2 were 7.6 ± 1.4 and 7.0 ± 1.4 cm, respectively. The mean α was 4.4 ± 1.5 cm (95% CI 4.1-4.8) and it was not affected by demographic factors, such as sex, age, height or weight. Conclusions: CVCs in adult patients can be placed near the CAJ using a simple formula: the distance between the skin insertion point and the clavicular notch + the vertical distance between the clavicular notch to the carina + 4.4 cm.합병증을 줄이기 위해 중심정맥도관의 끝을 대정맥-심방접합부나 심방 안에 위치시키는 것이 중요하다. 중심정맥도관을 피부삽입부와 빗장패임 사이의 거리와 빗장패임과 기관분기부 사이의 거리를 더한 만큼 넣으면, 도관의 끝은 기관분기부 근처에 위치하게 된다. 이런 사실을 바탕으로 중심정맥도관을 대정맥-심방접합부에 위치시키기 위한 삽입거리를 구하는 공식을 만들고자 하였다. 전향적 비무작위 임상시험을 시행하였고, 2017년 7월부터 2018년 8월까지 중심정맥도관 삽입이 필요한 환자를 대상으로 연속적으로 모집하였다. 대정맥-심방접합부의 위치는 수술용 투시유도 하에 확인을 하였다. 아래의 3가지 거리를 시술 중에 측정하였다: 거리 1, 삽입부와 빗장패임 사이의 거리; 거리 2, 빗장패임과 기관분지부 사이의 수직 거리; 거리 3, 기관분지부와 대정맥-심방접합부 사이의 수직 거리. 총 70명의 환자가 분석 되었다. 환자의 평균 나이는 65.5 ± 11.6 세였고, 62.9%는 남성이었다. 거리 1과 2의 평균값은 7.6 ± 1.4 와 7.0 ± 1.4 cm 였다. 거리 3의 평균값은 4.4 ± 1.5 cm (95% CI 4.1-4.8) 였고, 이 값은 환자의 나이, 키, 성별, 체중 등에 영향을 받지 않았다. 한국 성인에서 아래의 공식을 사용하여 중심정맥도관의 끝을 대정맥-심방접합부 근처에 위치시킬 수 있다. 총 삽입 길이 = 삽입부와 빗장패임 사이의 거리 + 빗장패임과 기관분지부 사이의 수직 거리 + 4.4 cm.Introduction 1 Materials and Methods 3 Results 9 Discussion 15 Conclusion 18 References 19 Abstract in Korean 21Maste

Digital Media Dependency, Relational Orientation and Socaial Networking among College Students

This study focused on digital media dependency, relational orientation, and demographic variables as potential factors that were relevant to the usage of social networking websites (e.g., MySpace and Facebook) among college students. A total of 258 (101 male and 157 female) students completed the questionnaire that contains the measures of digital media dependency, relational orientation, social networking media usage, and demographic characteristics. The respondents also indicated specific types of things that they disclose (post) on their social media websites. The results showed that relational orientation is positively correlated with the disclosure (posting) of family photos, friends’ photos, and travel photos and that White students are more likely than others to disclose their gender and favorite things (likes/dislikes) and post their own photos and travel photos. Regression analysis revealed that age is a significant, negative indicator of social media usage, whereas digital media dependency and overall computer usage are significant, positive predictors for the dependent measure. That is, the younger the student and the greater the levels of digital media dependency and overall computer usage, the greater the level of involvement in social networking website

Peranan Industri Dan Perguruan Tinggi Dalam Penemuan, Inovasidan Alm Teknowgi Menuju Hak Cipta Dan Hak Paten

Perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi dimanfaatkan olehmanusia untuk mengatasi kesuIitan-kesuIitan dan memenuhi kebutuhanhidup. Bangsa atau manusia di negara maju dapat memanfaatkan teknologimutakhir, sementara sebagian besar manusia yang lain menanggungdampak negatif sebagai akibat penerapan teknologi. Manusia mencarialternatif teknologi yang akan dikembangkan dan diterapkan, denganmelakukan pengkajian terhadap teknologi, agar dapat memanfaatkanteknologi seoptimal mungkin dengan mengantisipasi dampak negatifyang mungkin teIjadi.JImu pengetahuan manusia terdiri dari 4 ranah: Descriptive,Prescriptive, Ponnal Knowledge dan Praxiology, mempunyai hubungantimbal Balik dengan kehidupan manusia yang memiliki empat sistemideology, sociology, technology, dan environment. Pengembangan danpenerapan IPTEK bersumber dari penemuan dan inovasi, atau lewat alihteknologi dari negara maju dengan mempertimbangkan keuntungan danresiko yang mungkin teIjadi. Penemuan dan inovasi yang dilakukan olehpara perguruan tinggi, perIu ditunjang dan didukung oleh peraturan danpengakuan legalitas hak cipta dan paten sebagai intelectual right.Beberapa keiJdala yang dialaroi perguruan tinggi dalam mewujudkanhak cipta dan hak paten terhadap hasil temuan: (1) kurang tersedianyadana, (2) rendahnya motivasi untukpenelitian dasar, (3) belummemadainya penghargaan fmansiil terhadap penemuan,(4) terbatasnyatenaga profesional dalam penelitian dasar, (5)penelitian di perguruantinggi kurang terkait dengan teknologi yimg diterapkan industri, (6)pemahaman tentang hak paten dan hak cipta masih kurang, dan (7)belum ada upaya nyata untuk memasyarakatkan peraturan hak cipta danhak paten di lingkungan kampus. , .Ada tiga hal yang perIu diperhatiklin dalam pengusulan hak ciptadan hak paten: persyaratan, organisasl, dan prosedur pelaksanaan.Prosedur pengajuan usulan melalui 4 tahapan: (a) usulan pengajuanpenemuan; (b) kelengkapan lampiran bukti hasil temuan, gambar disaindari hasil penemuan, dan pernyataan tentang hasil temuan; (c) menyampaikanusulan kepada Ketua Jurusan dan Dekan, dan diteruskan ke panitiadaerah; (d) pengesahan oleh Rektor dan diajukan ke Panitia Nasionallewat Direktorat Pembinaan Penelitian dan Pengabdian pada Masyarakat

Pharmaceutical-embodied technical progress, longevity, and quality of life: drugs as "equipment for your health"

Several econometric studies have concluded that technical progress embodied in equipment is a major source of manufacturing productivity growth. Other research has suggested that, over the long run, growth in the U.S. economy's 'health output' has been at least as large as the growth in non-health goods and services. One important input in the production of health pharmaceuticals is even more R&D- intensive than equipment. In this paper we test the pharmaceutical-embodied technical progress hypothesis the hypothesis that newer drugs increase the length and quality of life and estimate the rate of progress. To do this, we estimate health production functions, in which the dependent variables are various indicators of post-treatment health status (such as survival, perceived health status, and presence of physical or cognitive limitations), and the regressors include drug vintage (the year in which the FDA first approved a drug's active ingredient(s)) and indicators of pre-treatment health status. We estimate these relationships using extremely disaggregated prescription- level cross-sectional data derived primarily from the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We find that people who used newer drugs had better post-treatment health than people using older drugs for the same condition, controlling for pre-treatment health, age, sex, race, marital status, education, income, and insurance coverage: they were more likely to survive, their perceived health status was higher, and they experienced fewer activity, social, and physical limitations. The estimated cost of the increase in vintage required to keep a person alive is lower than some estimates of the value of remaining alive for one month. One estimate of the cost of preventing an activity limitation is $1745, and the annual rate of technical progress with respect to activity limitations is 8.4%. People consuming newer drugs tend to experience greater increases (or smaller declines) in physical ability than people consuming older drugs. Most of the health measures indicate that the effect of drug vintage on health is higher for people with low initial health than it is for people with high initial health. Therefore in contrast to equipment-embodied technical progress economic inequality, pharmaceutical-embodied technical progress has a tendency to reduce inequality as well as promote economic growth, broadly defined.

Composition Modulation of Ag_2Te Nanowires for Tunable Electrical and Thermal Properties

In this article, we demonstrated that composition modulation of Ag_2Te nanowires can be achieved during the self-templated transformation of Te nanowires into Ag_2Te nanowires during solution phase synthesis, which provides a mean to tune the carrier density of the Ag_2Te nanowires. Both nearly stoichiometric and Ag-rich nanowires have been synthesized, which give rise to p-type and n-type Ag_2Te nanocomposites after hot press, respectively. The electrical and thermal properties of the two kinds of samples have been measured. Theoretical modeling based on the near-equilibrium Boltzmann transport equations has been used to understand the experimental results. We found that ZT of the heavily doped n-type sample reaches 0.55 at 400 K, which is the highest ZT value reported for Ag_2Te at the same temperature mainly due to the reduced thermal conductivity by the nanostructures. Theoretical analysis on the carrier transport shows that the power factor is also very well optimized in the doped Ag_2Te sample considering the reduced carrier mobility by the nanostructures

Expression analysis of low temperature-induced genes in wheat

Non-Peer ReviewedWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a widely adapted, economically important crop exhibiting winter, spring and intermediate growth habits. Winter wheat is seeded in the fall, over-winters, resumes growth in spring and is harvested in early summer. It also requires a period of low temperature (LT) exposure, experienced during the fall, to switch from the vegetative to reproductive phase in spring, a process known as vernalization. Low temperature also allows the wheat plant to cold-acclimate to withstand freezing winter temperatures. There has always been an interest to grow winter wheat because of its yield advantage over spring wheat. However, LT tolerance needs to be improved to prevent winter kill and maximize its yield potential. To achieve this more detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying LT tolerance is required. Thus, objectives of this study were to determine the expression of a LT-induced gene and cDNA-AFLP profile in leaf and crown tissues of LT-exposed wheat plants. Survival of crown tissues after exposure to sub-zero temperatures is an indication of the level of LT tolerance of a cultivar. Thus, pattern and levels of expression of LT-induced genes and identification of LT-induced transcripts in this tissue will add to understanding of LT tolerance. Genotypes used in this study included a winter hardy cultivar, Norstar, a tender spring cultivar, Manitou and two-near-isogenic lines with the Vrn-A1 (spring Norstar) and vrn-A1 (winter Manitou) alleles of Manitou and Norstar, respectively. The dominant Vrn-A1 locus confers spring habit and therefore no requirement for vernalization. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) for the cold-regulated gene, Wcor410, indicated that in leaf tissue the Vrn-A1 locus determined level of expression, being higher in the lines having the recessive vrn-A1 allele compared to the dominant Vrn-A1 allele lines. In the crown tissue, the Norstar genetic background led to the higher level of expression than in the Manitou background. cDNA-AFLP analysis also exhibited variable profiles between the two tissues