Orientation-dependent pseudomorphic growth of InAs for use in lattice-mismatched mid-infrared photonic structures

In this study, InAs was deposited on GaAs (100) and GaAs (111)B 2 degrees towardssubstrates for the purpose of differentiating the InAs growth mode stemming from strain and then analyzed using in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, reflectance spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The procession of InAs deposition throughout a range of deposition conditions results in assorted forms of strain relief revealing that, despite lattice mismatch for InAs on GaAs (approximately 7%), InAs does not necessarily result in typical quantum dot/wire formation on (111) surfaces, but instead proceeds two-dimensionally due primarily to the surface orientation

The long-run costs of moderate inflation

Long-run price stability is generally considered to be a primary goal of monetary policymakers in many countries. One reason policymakers care about inflation is that it can harm economic performance. Numerous studies of the impact of inflation on economic performance have focused on whether increases in inflation reduce economic growth in the long run These studies have found that prolonged high inflation does in fact reduce economic growth, but they were not able to detect a significant long-run relationship between real growth and low or moderate inflation. Because anti-inflationary policies typically have short-run costs, such as higher unemployment and slower economic growth, the results from these studies may lead people to ask whether such policies are appropriate when inflation is low or moderate.> Hess and Morris contend that anti-inflationary policies may be appropriate, even if low to moderate long-run inflation does not reduce long-run growth, if inflation harms the economy in other ways. Three potentially harmful consequences of inflation are considered: (1) inflation uncertainty, (2) real growth variability, and (3) relative price volatility. These consequences are costly because they reduce economic efficiency and therefore the level of economic output and consumer welfare.> The authors discuss the costs of inflation uncertainty, real growth variability, and relative price volatility, and examine their empirical relationship with inflation. They show that inflation uncertainty, real growth variability, and relative price volatility all tend to rise as long-run inflation rises from low to moderate levels. As a result, they conclude that policymakers may find it justifiable to pursue anti-inflationary policies even when inflation is low.Inflation (Finance) ; Prices

Maternal weight gain and fetal growth

Extrinsic factors such as maternal nutrition may affect fetal growth giving rise to short and long-term consequences. The present study sets out to explore the inter-relationship between antenatal weight gain, in part dependant on maternal nutrition, and fetal growth as determined by birth weight. The study population included 21573 women who delivered their singleton child at term during 1999-2006. This population was subdivided into 16 subgroups according to BMI and antenatal weight gain. The study confirms that irrespective of maternal BMI, there is a statistically significant trend towards low birth weight with decreasing antenatal weight gain and conversely macrosomia with increasing antenatal weight gain.peer-reviewe

History of leprosy in Malta

Leprosy was always viewed with aborrhence requiring segregation of the unfortunate sufferers. The policy of segregation in dedicated leprosaria, initially introduced during the Medieval Period, was re-adopted during the late 19th century and persisted well into the 20th century. The management of lepers in Malta followed similar principles as elsewhere.peer-reviewe

Taxation and Corporate Financial Policy

A model of corporate financial policy (debt-equity ratios and dividend payout rates) is included in the Harberger general equilibrium model of incidence of the corporate income tax. Illustrative calculations of the distortions of financial policy and increases in risk premiums induced by the corporate tax are provided. Because risk premiums on corporate securities would be reduced, eliminating the corporate tax or integrating it into the personal tax would increase the income of non-corporate investors relatively more than that of investors in corporate securities, and is therefore less regressive than is commonly thought.

Microlensing of Lensed Supernovae

Given the number of recently discovered galaxy-galaxy lens systems, we anticipate that a gravitationally lensed supernova will be observed within the next few years. We explore the possibility that stars in the lens galaxy will produce observable microlensing fluctuations in lensed supernova light curves. For typical parameters, we predict that ~70% of lensed SNe will show microlensing fluctuations > 0.5 mag, while ~25% will have fluctuations > 1 mag. Thus microlensing of lensed supernova will be both ubiquitous and observable. Additionally, we show that microlensing fluctuations will complicate measurements of time delays from multiply imaged supernovae: time delays accurate to better than a few days will be difficult to obtain. We also consider prospects for extracting the lens galaxy's stellar mass fraction and mass function from microlensing fluctuations via a new statistical measure, the time-weighted light curve derivative.Comment: 13 pages, emulateapj format; accepted in ApJ; expanded discussion of time delay uncertaintie

Korean SMEs in the Wake of the Financial Crisis: Strategies, Constraints and Performance in a Global Economy

South Korea was one of the most adversely affected economies from the Asian financial and economic crisis of 1997. This paper focuses upon the contribution that the SME sector in this country is making towards the recovery of the economy, and, in particular, focuses upon their contribution in a knowledge-based society. In this paper we present an overview of the contribution and significance of SMEs to the economy. We follow this with a discussion of the impact of the Asian financial crisis on the SME sector. Next, we look at the involvement of SMEs in the global economy, focusing on the globalisation readiness of Korea's SMEs. Based on a recent study of nearly 1,800 SMEs in Korea, we look at the existing impediments in globalising operations, along with areas government should support in assisting SMEs to become globalisation ready. Finally, we present the prospects for Korea's SMEs in the 21st century and the emphasis on venture enterprises as a way to promote the technological competitiveness of SMEs.South Korea, Asian financial crisis, SME sector, economic recovery