(WP 2010-09) Does Money Matter? An Empirical Investigation

This paper uses a simultaneous-equations model of the new consensus macroeconomic model to examine whether the inclusion of the money stock in the aggregate demand function improves the statistical fit of the model. The results indicate that the consensus model is accurate for the U.S. in that the inclusion of money does not increase the predictive power of the model. However, the results reveal that the estimated coefficients are more robust when money is included as an instrumental variable in the simultaneous equations consensus model

Does Money Matter? An Empirical Investigation

This paper uses a simultaneous-equations model of the new consensus macroeconomic model to examine whether the inclusion of the money stock in the aggregate demand function improves the statistical fit of the model. The results indicate that the consensus model is accurate for the U.S. in that the inclusion of money does not increase the predictive power of the model. However, the results reveal that the estimated coefficients are more robust when money is included as an instrumental variable in the simultaneous equations consensus modelConsensus Macro Model; Monetary Policy; Phillips Curve; Taylor Rule

An All Linear Optical Quantum Memory Based on Quantum Error Correction

When photons are sent through a fiber as part of a quantum communication protocol, the error that is most difficult to correct is photon loss. Here, we propose and analyze a two-to-four qubit encoding scheme, which can recover the loss of one qubit in the transmission. This device acts as a repeater when it is placed in series to cover a distance larger than the attenuation length of the fiber, and it acts as an optical quantum memory when it is inserted in a fiber loop. We call this dual-purpose device a ``quantum transponder.''Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

The design of aircraft using the decision support problem technique

The Decision Support Problem Technique for unified design, manufacturing and maintenance is being developed at the Systems Design Laboratory at the University of Houston. This involves the development of a domain-independent method (and the associated software) that can be used to process domain-dependent information and thereby provide support for human judgment. In a computer assisted environment, this support is provided in the form of optimal solutions to Decision Support Problems

Optimal Quantum Circuits for General Two-Qubit Gates

In order to demonstrate non-trivial quantum computations experimentally, such as the synthesis of arbitrary entangled states, it will be useful to understand how to decompose a desired quantum computation into the shortest possible sequence of one-qubit and two-qubit gates. We contribute to this effort by providing a method to construct an optimal quantum circuit for a general two-qubit gate that requires at most 3 CNOT gates and 15 elementary one-qubit gates. Moreover, if the desired two-qubit gate corresponds to a purely real unitary transformation, we provide a construction that requires at most 2 CNOTs and 12 one-qubit gates. We then prove that these constructions are optimal with respect to the family of CNOT, y-rotation, z-rotation, and phase gates.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, new title, final journal versio

Neural Tube Defects Prevalence in A Hospital-Based Study in Urmia

AbstractObjectiveNeural tube defects including anencephaly, encephalocele, and spina bifida are major congenital malformations with multifactorial etiology, and with a great variation in their prevalence in different populations. The study on the prevalence of these malformations may be helpful in planning strategies for their prevention. The aim of this epidemiologic descriptive study was to determine the prevalence of neural tube defects and to describe their birth characteristics in Motahhari hospital, Urmia, West Azerbaijan.Materials and MethodsA cross-section observational study was carried on the hospital-based charts of consecutive 13997 live-births and 124 stillbirths during the period January 2001 through June 2005. The defects categorized based on the domains of anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele according to standard definitions.ResultsDuring this period, 117 cases were detected with neural tube defects, giving an overall  prevalence of 8.29/1000. Of 117 cases, 81 (69.23%) cases were seen among stillbirths and 36 (30.77%) cases among live-births, that is, the prevalence of neural tube defects for stillbirths and live-births were 653.2/1000 and 2.57/1000 respectively. The yearly prevalence varies between 6.99/1000 and 9.82/1000 over the 4.5-year period. The major lesion was  anencephaly with prevalence of 5.52/1000 (66.67% of all neural tube defects). Approximately, two-thirds (66.09%) of cases were found in females. Weights of 73.36% of anencephalic cases were less than 1000 grams.ConclusionIn this study, the prevalence of neural tube defects is among the highest reported rates. There was a significance difference in the prevalence of anencephaly, as the most prevalent NTD, between live-births and stillbirths. These findings may necessitate an intensive approach to periconceptional folic acid supplementation as a possible strategy to reduce the prevalence of these defects

GBS Platform Evaluation Using Field Instrumentation

A case history of the foundation behaviour of an offshore gravity base structure (GBS) is presented. The platform rests on an overconsolidated fissured clay, bounded, top and bottom, by pervious sand layers. Sixteen piezometers have been placed within this 30 m layer. Based on one-dimensional consolidation theory, independent analyses using both settlement and pore pressure measurements indicated a high degree of consolidation had occurred much sooner than was estimated in the initial design phase. These analyses indicated that laboratory oedometer tests underpredicted the coefficient of consolidation by one to two orders of magnitude. Updated settlements and stability analyses yielded 50% of the initially anticipated settlement and a 20% increase in the available safety factor. In addition, the certainty that the theory relating pore pressure to settlements was appropriate, led to confidence in the piezometer performance, and in turn the procedure used to install them