333 research outputs found

    Aproksimacija drugog reda za srednji pomak čestice uronjene u toplinsku kupku uz prisustvo vanjske sile

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    The interaction of a quantum particle with a heat bath of quantum oscillators under the influence of an external force has been studied and the mean displacement of this particle has been computed up to second order approximation in the propagator. The heat bath has been considered as Brownian and the characteristic frequencies are close to the characteristic frequency of the particle. The mean displacement of the particle has been found to oscillate with time. The temperature dependence of the mean displacement follows an exponential function of e-1/T.Razmatrano je međudjelovanje kvantne čestice s toplinskom kupkom kvantnih oscilatora uz prisustvo vanjske sile. Određen je srednji pomak čestice do približenja drugog reda za propagator. Toplinska kupka Brownovskog je tipa s karakterističnim frekvencijama bliskim karakterističnoj frekvenciji čestice. Nađeno je da srednji pomak čestice oscilira u vremenu

    Do Stock Returns Really Decrease with Default Risk? New International Evidence

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    This study constructs a novel data set of bankruptcy filings for a large sample of non-U.S. firms in 14 developed markets and sheds new light on the cross-sectional relation between default risk and stock returns. Using the reduced-form approach of Campbell et al. (2008) to estimate default probabilities, we offer conclusive evidence supporting the existence of a significant positive default risk premium in international markets. This finding is robust to different portfolio weighting schemes, data filters, risk-adjusting approaches, and holding period definitions. Decomposing the default risk measure into its systematic and idiosyncratic components, we find that the former drives this positive relation. We also show that the default risk premium is more pronounced in countries where creditor protection is stronger and shareholder bargaining power is lower

    Increases in use of novel synthetic stimulant are not directly linked to decreased use of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA)

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    A decline in 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) use in Adelaide, Australia from 2009 to 2010 was confirmed by us previously. Reports suggested that the shortage in MDMA supply was associated with an increased prevalence of other synthetic stimulants, but quantitative measurements were unavailable. To obtain objective data on the community use of synthetic stimulants, we collected wastewater samples from multiple treatment plants in Adelaide, Australia from 2009 to 2011 and analysed them using solid-phase extraction/liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS), targeting MDMA and some of the most reported synthetic cathinones and piperazines. Data were temporally compared. MDMA and six other synthetic stimulants were detected and quantified in wastewater samples. While MDMA level decreased markedly from 2009 to 2010 and remained low in 2011, localized increased use of mephedrone, methylone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), benzylpiperazine (BZP), 3-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), but not methcathinone, was observed in 2010 and 2011. This suggested that the decline in MDMA use was associated with an increase in the use of a number of other synthetic stimulants. However, the lag time from the decrease in MDMA to the increase in use of a number of these stimulants, together with the highly regionalized use of all synthetic stimulants except methcathinone indicates that there was no direct population wide substitution in response to the reduction in MDMA.Chang Chen, Chris Kostakis, Rodney J. Irvine, Jason M. Whit

    Supramolecular assemblies involving metal organic ring interactions: Heterometallic Cu(II)-Ln(III) two dimensional coordination polymers

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    Three isostructural two-dimensional coordination polymers of the general formula [Ln2(CuL)3(H2O)9]$5.5H2O, where Ln is La (1), Nd (2), and Gd (3), have been synthesized and isolated from aqueous solutions and their single-crystal structures determined by X-ray diffraction. The supramolecular interaction between the non-aromatic metallorings plays an important role in stabilizing the structure of these compounds. The thermal stability, reversible solvent uptake, electronic properties and magnetic studies of these compounds are also reported

    The validity of Wagner’s Law in the United Kingdom during the last two centuries

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    The objective of this paper is to examine the Wagner’s law validity, and whether it can explain the U.K. public spending expansion for the period 1850–2010. According to Wagner’s Law, economic development is the key determinant to public sector growth. Accordingly, the public sector grows overproportionally compared to national income when economies develop. We test this hypothesis for the UK. The data covers a period in which the U.K. economy experienced increased economic growth, government spending and met most of the assumption of Wagner’s Law (industrialisation, urbanisation, increased population). Furthermore, the long data set ensures the reliability of our results in terms of statistical and economic conclusions. We apply unit root tests, unit root tests with structural breaks, cointegration techniques and the Granger causality test. Our results indicate a presence of a long run relationship between national income and government spending, while the causality is bi-directional, thus we find support for Wagner’s and Keynesian hypotheses

    Combining Donor and Recipient Age With Preoperative MELD and UKELD Scores for Predicting Survival After Liver Transplantation

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    Objectives: The end-stage liver disease scoring systems MELD, UKELD, and D-MELD (donor age × MELD) have had mediocre results for survival assessment after orthotopic liver transplant. Here, we introduced new indices based on preoperative MELD and UKELD scores and assessed their predictive ability on survival posttransplant. Materials and Methods: We included 1017 deceased donor orthotopic liver transplants that were performed between 2008 (the year UKELD was introduced) and 2019. Donor and recipient characteristics, liver disease scores, transplant characteristics, and outcomes were collected for analyses. D-MELD, D-UKELD (donor age × UKELD), DR-MELD [(donor age + recipient age) × MELD], and DR-UKELD [(donor age + recipient age) × UKELD] were calculated. Results: No score had predictive value for graft survival. For patient survival, DR-MELD and DR-UKELD provided the best results but with low accuracy. The highest accuracy was observed at 1 year posttransplant (areas under the curve of 0.598 [95% CI, 0.529-0.667] and 0.609 [95% CI, 0.549-0.67] for DR-MELD and DR-UKELD). Addition of donor and recipient age significantly improved the predictive abilities of MELD and UKELD for patient survival, but addition of donor age alone did not. For 1-year mortality (using receiver operating characteristic curves), optimal cut-off points were DR-MELD >2345 and DR-UKELD >5908. Recipients with DR-MELD >2345 (P 5908 (P = .002) had worse patient survival within the first year, but only DR-MELD >2345 remained significant after multiva­riable analysis (P = .007). Conclusions: DR-MELD and DR-UKELD scores provided the best, albeit mediocre, predictive ability among the 6 tested models, especially at 1 year after posttransplant, although only for patient but not for graft survival. A DR-MELD >2345 was considered to be an additional independent risk factor for worse recipient survival within the first postoperative year

    Interpenetrated networks from a novel nanometer-sized pseudopeptidic ligand, bridging water, and transition metal ions with CdSO4 topology.

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    The combination of a new pseudopeptidic ligand, transition metal ions, and bridging water molecules results in the formation of [M(m-TBG)(m-H2O)(H2O)2]?2H2O (M: Cu, Co and H2TBG: terephthaloylbisglycine); both compounds show rare two-fold interpenetrated three-dimensional cds-nets and reversible loss of coordinated and lattice water molecule

    Donor-Recipient Body Surface Area Mismatch and the Outcome of Liver Transplantation in the UK

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    Introduction: Too small or too big liver grafts for recipient's size has detrimental effects on transplant outcomes. Research Questions: The purpose was to correlate donor-recipient body surface area (BSA) ratio or BSA index (BSAi) with recipient survival, graft survival, hepatic artery or portal vein, or vena cava thrombosis. High and low BSAi cut-off points were determined. Design: There were 11,245 adult recipients of first deceased donor whole liver-only grafts performed in the UK from January 2000 until June 2020. The transplants were grouped according to the BSAi and compared to complications, graft and recipient survival. Results: The BSAi ranged from 0.491 to 1.691 with a median of 0.988. The BSAi > 1.3 was associated with a higher rate of portal vein thrombosis within the first 3 months (5.5%). This risk was higher than size-matched transplants (OR: 2.878, 95% CI: 1.292-6.409, P = 0.01). Overall graft survival was worse in transplants with BSAi ≤ 0.85 (HR: 1.254, 95% CI: 1.051-1.497, P = 0.012) or BSAi > 1.4 (HR: 3.704, 95% CI: 2.029-6.762, P 1.4. These findings were confirmed by bootstrap internal validation. No statistically significant differences were detected for hepatic artery thrombosis, occlusion of hepatic veins/inferior vena cava or recipient survival. Conclusions: Donor-recipient size mismatch affects the rates of portal vein thrombosis within the first 3 months and overall graft survival in deceased-donor liver transplants
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