The Contribution of the IMF and the World Bank to Economic Freedom

We analyse the effect of IMF and World Bank policies on the composite index of economic freedom by Gwartney et al. (2000) as well as its sub-indexes, using a panel of 85 countries observed between 1970 and 1997. With respect to the Bank, we find that the number of projects has a positive impact on overall economic freedom, while the effect of the amount of World Bank credits is negative. These effects are stronger during the 1990s than in earlier periods. There is no clear relationship between credits and programs of the IMF and economic freedom. --Economic freedom,IMF,World Bank,structural adjustment policies

Is There a Causal Link between Currency and Debt Crisis?

debt crises, currency crises, contagion

The Contribution of the IMF and the World Bank to Economic Freedom

We analyse the effect of IMF and World Bank policies on the composite index of economic freedom by Gwartney et al. (2000) as well as its sub-indexes, using a panel of 85 countries observed between 1970 and 1997. With respect to the Bank, we find that the number of projects has a positive impact on overall economic freedom, while the effect of the amount of World Bank credits is negative. These effects are stronger during the 1990s than in earlier periods. There is no clear relationship between credits and programs of the IMF and economic freedom

HIS-based electronic documentation can significantly reduce the time from biopsy to final report for prostate tumours and supports quality management as well as clinical research

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Timely and accurate information is important to guide the medical treatment process. We developed, implemented and assessed an order-entry system to support documentation of prostate histologies involving urologists, pathologists and physicians in private practice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We designed electronic forms for histological prostate biopsy reports in our hospital information system (HIS). These forms are created by urologists and sent electronically to pathologists. Pathological findings are entered into the system and sent back to the urologists. We assessed time from biopsy to final report (TBF) and compared pre-implementation phase (paper-based forms) and post-implementation phase. In addition we analysed completeness of the electronic data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We compared 87 paper-based with 86 electronic cases. Using electronic forms within the HIS decreases time span from biopsy to final report by more than one day per patient (p < 0.0001). Beyond the optimized workflow we observed a good acceptance because physicians were already familiar with the HIS. The possibility to use these routine data for quality management and research purposes is an additional important advantage of the electronic system.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Electronic documentation can significantly reduce the time from biopsy to final report of prostate biopsy results and generates a reliable basis for quality management and research purposes.</p

Service Consumer Model: Understanding and Describing Consumers for New Service Development

Against the background of an increasing discrepancy between consumer access to an evergrowing range of products and being increasingly frustrated with the consumption processes, we propose a model for understanding and describing consumers and their behavior holistically. In this paper, a design science approach is used. The model is build on existing concepts such as the concept of consumer processes, user context, service-dominant logic, disconfirmation, activity theory, and event-driven process chains. The application of the model and its usefulness for improving new service development is demonstrated by an example

Wenn Markt und Ökologie an einem Strang ziehen

Mit der Initiative Grundwasserschutz durch Öko-Landbau will die Regierung von Unterfranken landwirtschaftliche Betriebe zur Umstellung motivieren. An der Aktion beteiligt sind Unternehmen der Bio-Lebensmittelwirtschaft, Bio-Verbände und der Bayerische Bauernverband

Nano Positioning of Single Atoms in a Micro Cavity

The coupling of individual atoms to a high-finesse optical cavity is precisely controlled and adjusted using a standing-wave dipole-force trap, a challenge for strong atom-cavity coupling. Ultracold Rubidium atoms are first loaded into potential minima of the dipole trap in the center of the cavity. Then we use the trap as a conveyor belt that we set into motion perpendicular to the cavity axis. This allows us to repetitively move atoms out of and back into the cavity mode with a repositioning precision of 135 nm. This makes possible to either selectively address one atom of a string of atoms by the cavity, or to simultaneously couple two precisely separated atoms to a higher mode of the cavity.Comment: 4 pages 5 figure

Simulation and experimental verification of the thermal behaviour of self-written waveguides

In this work, we investigated the optical response of a self-written waveguide (SWW) in detail by heating the structure from room temperature up to 60 °C. Previous results indicated a decrease in the optical transmission with increasing temperature for certain waveguide parameters. Based on new experimental measurements, we have identified material parameters resulting in opposite behaviour. An experimental setup was conceived to verify these results. Hereby, we were able to show that we can adjust material parameters such as refractive index and the corresponding density of the material by adapting the curing time applied during the fabrication of the waveguides. This, in turn, affects the material’s response during the heating process. We showed that a limitation of the external curing time changes the internal conditions of the SWW and the cladding in a manner that the numerical aperture increases with the temperature, which subsequently also results in an increase in the optical transmission. In this study, we explain this unexpected behavior of the SWW and point towards possible future applications. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

The New Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA) Status

Mr Irfan Gündüz started his speech by stating that the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA) is aimed to be opened in the beginning of 2018. He further stated the new airport project is conducted on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. The airport will be managed by the company for 25 years before it is transferred to another company in 2043. He thinks that IGA will fulfill both airlines’s and ground handling company’s as well as passengers’ needs.İrfan Gündüz konuşmasına İstanbul Grand Airport (IGA)’nın 2018 yılında açılmasının amaçlandığını ve yeni havaalanı projesinin Yap-İşlet-Devret sistemiyle sürdürüleceğini belirterek başladı. Şirketleri 25 yıllık işletme sürecinden sonra 2043 yılında havaalanının işletmesini başka bir şirkete aktaracak. İrfan Gündüz projenin hem havayolu ve yer şirketlerinin, hem de yolcuların ihtiyaçlarını karşılayacağını düşünüyor

Combined thermomechanical and optical simulations of planar-optical polymer waveguides

In this work, we describe a theoretical approach for combined thermal, mechanical and optical simulation and analysis of planar polymer waveguides. We consider a finite element approach for thermal and stress/deformation simulation. Also, a Crank-Nicholson finite difference beam propagation method (CN-BPM) is implemented to perform the optical simulation. The results of the finite element (thermo-mechanical) analysis are coupled with the CN-BPM results to carry out the optical simulation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) waveguides as function of temperature. For thermal simulation, a model was designed where a polysilicon microheater was added to the upper cladding of the PMMA waveguides to vary the temperature between 20 °C and 200 °C. Thus, the impact of the induced temperature gradients on the refractive index modulation of the PMMA waveguides and the corresponding change in numerical aperture are obtained. In addition, the temperature gradients influence the beam intensity profiles and the movement of the primary eyes within the optical waveguides, thus, impacting the optical properties. Furthermore, the thermally induced mechanical stress and deformation were calculated for transverse and axial directions. In the next step, validation of the model by systematic experimental studies will be performed. In general, our approach provides a toolbox for more comprehensive multi-physics theoretical analysis of polymer-optical waveguides which, in future, can be extended to more complex and functional structures as required for flexible sensor networks, as example