5,626 research outputs found
International capital mobility in an era of globalisation: adding a political dimension to the 'Feldstein–Horioka Puzzle'
The debate about the scope of feasible policy-making in an era of globalisation continues to be set within the context of an assumption that national capital markets are now perfectly integrated at the international level. However, the empirical evidence on international capital mobility contradicts such an assumption. As a consequence, a significant puzzle remains. Why is it, in a world in which the observed pattern of capital flows is indicative of a far from globalised reality, that public policy continues to be constructed in line with more extreme variants of the globalisation hypothesis? I attempt to solve this puzzle by arguing that ideas about global capital market integration have an independent causal impact on political outcomes which extends beyond that which can be attributed to the extent of their actual integration
Asymptotic corrections to the eigenvalue density of the GUE and LUE
We obtain correction terms to the large N asymptotic expansions of the
eigenvalue density for the Gaussian unitary and Laguerre unitary ensembles of
random N by N matrices, both in the bulk of the spectrum and near the spectral
edge. This is achieved by using the well known orthogonal polynomial expression
for the kernel to construct a double contour integral representation for the
density, to which we apply the saddle point method. The main correction to the
bulk density is oscillatory in N and depends on the distribution function of
the limiting density, while the corrections to the Airy kernel at the soft edge
are again expressed in terms of the Airy function and its first derivative. We
demonstrate numerically that these expansions are very accurate. A matching is
exhibited between the asymptotic expansion of the bulk density, expanded about
the edge, and the asymptotic expansion of the edge density, expanded into the
bulk.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Split structures in general relativity and the Kaluza-Klein theories
We construct a general approach to decomposition of the tangent bundle of
pseudo-Riemannian manifolds into direct sums of subbundles, and the associated
decomposition of geometric objects. An invariant structure {\cal H}^r defined
as a set of r projection operators is used to induce decomposition of the
geometric objects into those of the corresponding subbundles. We define the
main geometric objects characterizing decomposition. Invariant non-holonomic
generalizations of the Gauss-Codazzi-Ricci's relations have been obtained. All
the known types of decomposition (used in the theory of frames of reference, in
the Hamiltonian formulation for gravity, in the Cauchy problem, in the theory
of stationary spaces, and so on) follow from the present work as special cases
when fixing a basis and dimensions of subbundles, and parameterization of a
basis of decomposition. Various methods of decomposition have been applied here
for the Unified Multidimensional Kaluza-Klein Theory and for relativistic
configurations of a perfect fluid. Discussing an invariant form of the
equations of motion we have found the invariant equilibrium conditions and
their 3+1 decomposed form. The formulation of the conservation law for the curl
has been obtained in the invariant form.Comment: 30 pages, RevTeX, aps.sty, some additions and corrections, new
references adde
Comparing obstetricians' and neonatologists' approaches to periviable counseling
OBJECTIVE: To compare the management options, risks and thematic content that obstetricians and neonatologists discuss in periviable counseling.
STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen obstetricians and 15 neonatologists counseled simulated patients portraying a pregnant woman with ruptured membranes at 23 weeks of gestation. Transcripts from video-recorded encounters were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for informational content and decision-making themes.
RESULT: Obstetricians more frequently discussed antibiotics (P=0.005), maternal risks (<0.001) and cesarean risks (<0.005). Neonatologists more frequently discussed neonatal complications (P=0.044), resuscitation (P=0.015) and palliative options (P=0.023). Obstetricians and neonatologists often deferred questions about steroid administration to the other specialty. Both specialties organized decision making around medical information, survival, quality of life, time and support. Neonatologists also introduced themes of values, comfort or suffering, and uncertainty.
CONCLUSION: Obstetricians and neonatologists provided complementary counseling content to patients, yet neither specialty took ownership of steroid discussions. Joint counseling and/or family meetings may minimize observed redundancy and inconsistencies in counseling
Nuclear transparencies for nucleons, knocked-out under various semi-inclusive conditions
Using hadron dynamics we calculate nuclear transparencies for protons,
knocked-out in high-, semi-inclusive reactions. Predicted transparencies
are, roughly half a standard deviation above the NE18 data. The latter contain
the effects of binned proton missing momenta and mass, and of finite detector
acceptances. In order to test sensitivity we compare computed transparencies
without restrictions and the same with maximal cuts for missing momenta and the
electron energy loss. We find hardly any variation, enabling a meaningful
comparison with data and predictions based on hadron dynamics. Should
discrepancies persist in high-statistics data, the above may with greater
confidence be attributed to exotic components in the description of the
outgoing proton.Comment: 13 pages + 3 figsin appended PS file, report # WIS-94/43/Oct-P
Modeling seismic wave propagation and amplification in 1D/2D/3D linear and nonlinear unbounded media
To analyze seismic wave propagation in geological structures, it is possible
to consider various numerical approaches: the finite difference method, the
spectral element method, the boundary element method, the finite element
method, the finite volume method, etc. All these methods have various
advantages and drawbacks. The amplification of seismic waves in surface soil
layers is mainly due to the velocity contrast between these layers and,
possibly, to topographic effects around crests and hills. The influence of the
geometry of alluvial basins on the amplification process is also know to be
large. Nevertheless, strong heterogeneities and complex geometries are not easy
to take into account with all numerical methods. 2D/3D models are needed in
many situations and the efficiency/accuracy of the numerical methods in such
cases is in question. Furthermore, the radiation conditions at infinity are not
easy to handle with finite differences or finite/spectral elements whereas it
is explicitely accounted in the Boundary Element Method. Various absorbing
layer methods (e.g. F-PML, M-PML) were recently proposed to attenuate the
spurious wave reflections especially in some difficult cases such as shallow
numerical models or grazing incidences. Finally, strong earthquakes involve
nonlinear effects in surficial soil layers. To model strong ground motion, it
is thus necessary to consider the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of soils and
simultaneously investigate seismic wave propagation in complex 2D/3D geological
structures! Recent advances in numerical formulations and constitutive models
in such complex situations are presented and discussed in this paper. A crucial
issue is the availability of the field/laboratory data to feed and validate
such models.Comment: of International Journal Geomechanics (2010) 1-1
Subpicosecond carrier lifetime in GaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperatures
Epitaxial GaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) at low substrate temperatures is observed to have a significantly shorter carrier lifetime than GaAs grown at normal substrate temperatures. Using femtosecond time‐resolved‐reflectance techniques, a sub‐picosecond (<0.4 ps) carrier lifetime has been measured for GaAs grown by MBE at ∼200°C and annealed at 600 °C. With the same material as a photoconductive switch we have measured electrical pulses with a full‐width at half‐maximum of 0.6 ps using the technique of electro‐optic sampling. Good responsivity for a photoconductive switch is observed, corresponding to a mobility of the photoexcited carriers of ∼120–150 cm2/V s. GaAs grown by MBE at 200 °C and annealed at 600 °C is also semi‐insulating, which results in a low dark current in the switch application. The combination of fast recombination lifetime, high carrier mobility, and high resistivity makes this material ideal for a number of subpicosecond photoconductive applications.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71318/2/APPLAB-59-25-3276-1.pd
Iron Compounds in Brazilian Pre-Columbian Pigments Identified by \u3csup\u3e57\u3c/sup\u3eFe Mossbauer Spectroscopy and X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction have been used to identify iron compounds in pre-Columbian pigments, probably used for art decorating, collected from the oldest archaeological site of Early Man presently known in American at Sao Raimundo Nonato, in Northeastern Brazil. The iron compounds were identified as being alpha-Fe203 (haematite) with full Morin transition supressed and small particles of alpha-FeOOH (goethite)
Complete Genome Sequence and Comparative Metabolic Profiling of the Prototypical Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli Strain 042
Background \ud
Escherichia coli can experience a multifaceted life, in some cases acting as a commensal while in other cases causing intestinal and/or extraintestinal disease. Several studies suggest enteroaggregative E. coli are the predominant cause of E. coli-mediated diarrhea in the developed world and are second only to Campylobacter sp. as a cause of bacterial-mediated diarrhea. Furthermore, enteroaggregative E. coli are a predominant cause of persistent diarrhea in the developing world where infection has been associated with malnourishment and growth retardation. \ud
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Methods \ud
In this study we determined the complete genomic sequence of E. coli 042, the prototypical member of the enteroaggregative E. coli, which has been shown to cause disease in volunteer studies. We performed genomic and phylogenetic comparisons with other E. coli strains revealing previously uncharacterised virulence factors including a variety of secreted proteins and a capsular polysaccharide biosynthetic locus. In addition, by using Biolog™ Phenotype Microarrays we have provided a full metabolic profiling of E. coli 042 and the non-pathogenic lab strain E. coli K-12. We have highlighted the genetic basis for many of the metabolic differences between E. coli 042 and E. coli K-12. \ud
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Conclusion \ud
This study provides a genetic context for the vast amount of experimental and epidemiological data published thus far and provides a template for future diagnostic and intervention strategies
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