Bringing the state back in: India’s 2015 model BIT

India’s new model BIT reflects a shift toward governing the conduct of foreign investors, and away from mere protection. The author considers how changes in the 2015 Model serve to reinforce the role of the state, and notes key challenges that may arise in practice

Multimodal Ultrasound Imaging for Improved Metastatic Lymph Node Detection

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is complex in nature due to the variety of organs located in the head and neck region. Knowing the metastatic state of the lymph nodes is paramount in accurately staging and treating HNSCC patients. Currently, metastatic lymph node detection involves the use of magnetic resonance imaging and/or x-ray computed tomography, followed by biopsies for histological confirmation. The main diagnostic criteria is the size of the nodes; however, current imaging methods are not 100% accurate due natural lymph node variability. Ultrasound imaging is able to provide additional biological information in addition to lymph node size such as the hilus state, presence of necrosis and vascular information, but it is hindered by poor resolution and limited contrast. Augmenting ultrasound for metastatic lymph node detection has clinical potential due to the availability of ultrasound in the clinic, reduced radiation exposure and minimized patient morbidity. This thesis focuses on augmenting ultrasound with photoacoustic imaging or with nanoparticle contrast agents for improved detection of lymph node metastasis. First, the development of an ultrasound-photoacoustic (USPA) imaging system is described. The USPA system is capable of imaging blood oxygen saturation (sO2), a promising criteria to differentiate between metastatic and healthy lymph nodes. To correct for tissue-dependent attenuation of light in tissue, a deep neural network was developed and trained using Monte-Carlo simulated and experimentally acquired photoacoustic data for better sO2 predictions. Secondly, to improve ultrasound sensitivity to metastatic cells, molecularly targeted phase change perfluorohexane nanodroplets conjugated to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies (PFHnD-Abs) were developed. It is shown that the PFHnD-Abs are able to specifically bind to HNSCC cells and improve the ultrasound contrast of the cells, opening the door to targeted metastatic lymph node detection. Lastly, to validate the use of the PFHnD-Abs in-vivo, a paired agent imaging approach was adopted by using using a perfluoropentane core nanodroplet (PFPnD) as a non-targeted imaging agent to enable multiplex ultrasound imaging in vivo. Overall, this work expands the potential of ultrasound for metastatic lymph node detection

Exact asymptotic distribution of change-point mle for change in the mean of Gaussian sequences

We derive exact computable expressions for the asymptotic distribution of the change-point mle when a change in the mean occurred at an unknown point of a sequence of time-ordered independent Gaussian random variables. The derivation, which assumes that nuisance parameters such as the amount of change and variance are known, is based on ladder heights of Gaussian random walks hitting the half-line. We then show that the exact distribution easily extends to the distribution of the change-point mle when a change occurs in the mean vector of a multivariate Gaussian process. We perform simulations to examine the accuracy of the derived distribution when nuisance parameters have to be estimated as well as robustness of the derived distribution to deviations from Gaussianity. Through simulations, we also compare it with the well-known conditional distribution of the mle, which may be interpreted as a Bayesian solution to the change-point problem. Finally, we apply the derived methodology to monthly averages of water discharges of the Nacetinsky creek, Germany.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-AOAS294 the Annals of Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

An Automated XPATH to SQL Transformation Methodology for XML Data

In this thesis we present an automated system that allows users to execute XPATH queries against an XML data source. The system exploits the shared-inlining mapping from XML to Relational data. At the core of the system is an XPATH to SQL transformation algorithm that produces corresponding SQL queries for a subset of XPATH. This approach allows one to utilize standard relational databases to store XML data. Given a DTD, the system creates appropriate relational tables based on the shared-inlining method. The system is capable of transforming an XML data source that conforms to the DTD into relational data. The main component of the system is the XPATH interpreter that parses an XPATH expression for the XML data source and transforms it into an equivalent SQL query. The SQL query is then executed against the relational database and results are packaged into XML and returned as the answer to the XPATH query. The use of the relational database to store and query the XML data is transparent to the user as they interact only with the XPATH interpreter. This methodology provides a novel technique to provide an XML database system implementation. Index Words: XML SQL transformation, XPATH to SQL queries, XSU, Data mapping

Residual Processes For Regression Models With Applications To Detection Of Parameter Changes At Unknown Times

Statistics have been derived for detecting one-sided and two- sided parameter changes at unknown times in regression models. The statistic for detecting one-sided changes is a linear function of regression residuals whereas the statistic for detecting two-sided changes is a quadratic form in the regression residuals. Under the assumption that the regressor functions are continuously differentiable, the asymptotic distribution of the quadratic form;is shown to be that of a sum of random variables which are stochastic integrals of the form;(DIAGRAM, TABLE OR GRAPHIC OMITTED...PLEASE SEE DAI);where B(,p)(t), t (epsilon) 0,1 is the limit process for the sequence of stochastic processes defined on partial sums of appropriate functions of regression residuals. The limit processes are found to be functions of Brownian Motion process. The distributions of these stochastic integrals are found by solving Fredholm integral equations defined on the covariance kernels of the limit processes. Explicit analytic solutions are obtained when the regressor functions are trigonometric. Limit processes defined on non-linear regression residuals are shown to be functions of Brownian Motion, and the distributions of the stochastic integrals based on these limit processes are derived when the non-linear regressor functions are of exponential type. These distributions have applications to detect parameter changes at unknown times in non-linear regression models

Investigation of Influenza B Virus Replication Potential in Swine Primary Respiratory Epithelial Cells and Phylodynamic Analysis of Equine Influenza A H3N8 Viruses

Influenza viruses are respiratory pathogens that cause significant mortality worldwide. The subtype of influenza A virus currently affecting worldwide equine populations is H3N8, leading to epidemics and transboundary pandemics. The individual gene segments of an isolate named A/equine/Montana/9564-1/2015 were phylogenetically characterized. BLASTn search revealed that the polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1), polymerase acidic (PA), hemagglutinin (HA), nucleoprotein (NP), and matrix (M) segments of this H3N8 isolate shared the highest percentage identity to A/equine/Tennessee/29A/2014 (H3N8) and the polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2), neuraminidase (NA), and non-structural protein (NS) segments to A/equine/Malaysia/M201/2015 (H3N8). Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees constructed using H3N8 viral genomes of both equine and canine origin, established that A/equine/Montana/9564-1/2015 belonged to the Florida Clade 1 viruses. A review of the current progress in influenza B virus (IBV) research includes the peerreviewed articles that have been published on five IBV proteins. Understanding the biology of the proteins encoded in the IBV genome, and their differences from IAV, is crucial in for vaccine research. The current understanding of the evolutionary dynamics and epidemiology of IBV is discussed which helps inform vaccine strategies and prevent IBV infections. Although IBV is thought to primarily infect humans, there is evidence of sporadic infections occurring in other species. These studies of natural and experimental infections of IBV are discussed, followed by a summary of the current literature on the studies done in ferrets. Swine are susceptible to infection by IBV, indicating that IBV could be a swine pathogen and natural reservoir for IBV. The second study looked at the replication kinetics of Victoria and Yamagata lineages of IBV in swine primary nasal turbinate, trachea and lung epithelial cells. Productive replication of B/Brisbane/60/2008 (BR08); B/Florida/04/06 (FL06); B/Hong Kong/286/2017 (HK17) and B/Utah/09/2014 (UT14) was seen at 0.01 and 0.1 multiplicities of infection. Peak titers at 33˚C were greater than or equal to titers at 37˚C for most of the experiments. HK17 (Victoria lineage) grew to the highest titers in nasal turbinate and lung cells. Lineage-specific differences in replication could not be observed in this study. Molecular analysis of will shed more light on the role of swine in the pathogenesis of IBV

Combined fast multipole-QR compression technique for solving electrically small to large structures for broadband applications

An approach that efficiently solves for a desired parameter of a system or device that can include both electrically large fast multipole method (FMM) elements, and electrically small QR elements. The system or device is setup as an oct-tree structure that can include regions of both the FMM type and the QR type. An iterative solver is then used to determine a first matrix vector product for any electrically large elements, and a second matrix vector product for any electrically small elements that are included in the structure. These matrix vector products for the electrically large elements and the electrically small elements are combined, and a net delta for a combination of the matrix vector products is determined. The iteration continues until a net delta is obtained that is within predefined limits. The matrix vector products that were last obtained are used to solve for the desired parameter

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the in vivo haemodynamic effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has complex effects on the cardiovascular system. We aimed to systematically review studies of THC and haemodynamic alterations. PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE were searched for relevant studies. Changes in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and blood flow (BF) were analysed using the Cochrane Review Manager Software. Thirty-one studies met the eligibility criteria. Fourteen publications assessed BP (number, n = 541), 22 HR (n = 567), and 3 BF (n = 45). Acute THC dosing reduced BP and HR in anaesthetised animals (BP, mean difference (MD) −19.7 mmHg, p < 0.00001; HR, MD −53.49 bpm, p < 0.00001), conscious animals (BP, MD −12.3 mmHg, p = 0.0007; HR, MD −30.05 bpm, p < 0.00001), and animal models of stress or hypertension (BP, MD −61.37 mmHg, p = 0.03) and increased cerebral BF in murine stroke models (MD 32.35%, p < 0.00001). Chronic dosing increased BF in large arteries in anaesthetised animals (MD 21.95 mL/min, p = 0.05) and reduced BP in models of stress or hypertension (MD −22.09 mmHg, p < 0.00001). In humans, acute administration increased HR (MD 8.16 bpm, p < 0.00001). THC acts differently according to species and experimental conditions, causing bradycardia, hypotension and increased BF in animals; and causing increased HR in humans. Data is limited, and further studies assessing THC-induced haemodynamic changes in humans should be considered

The role of international anti-corruption regulations in promoting socially responsible practices.

We analyze how international anti-corruption rules impact the behavior of multinational firms in promoting sustainable practices. Competition from multinational firms is expected to lower bribe rents and hence corruption in host countries. However, we argue that the competition between domestic and multinational firms is unequal as (only) the latter face greater monitoring and sanction through international anti-corruption regulations. We develop a game theoretic model of bribing to examine the strategic response of firms under conditions of unequal competition. We show that under certain conditions the bribing probability of domestic firms increases when multinational firms facing greater penalties refrain from bribing. We use an agent-based simulation to analyze industries with heterogeneous firms, showing that the optimal strategies converge to the Nash equilibrium, and identify the major drivers of profitability and bribing

Health care expenditure in rural India

Using the NCAER survey data on Human Development in rural India (HDI) (1994), supplemented by other sources, the paper examines the extent of household expenditure on education by different groups of population, the elasticity of household expenditure on education to changes in household income on the one hand and government expenditure on education on the other and the determinants of family expenditures on education. It has been found that there is nothing like 'free' education in India. Household expenditures on education are sizeable; households from even lower socio-economic background—Scheduled Castes/Tribes, low income groups—all spend considerable amounts on acquiring education, including specifically elementary education, which is expected to be provided free to all by the State. Important items of household expenditures consist of books, uniforms and fees. Even in the case of government primary and upper primary schools, students seem to be paying huge amounts of fees—examination and other fees. It is also found that households do not discriminate much against spending on girls' education; substantial differences exist in household expenditures between expenditure on children attending government schools, government-aided schools and private schools. Among the determinants of household expenditures, household characteristics—particularly household income and the educational level of the head of the household—are found to be important. Other important eterminants include demographic burden of the household (size of the household), caste and religion. Generally, gender is believed to be a very significant determinant of household expenditures on ducation. This is not necessarily true in all cases. School related variables chosen—the incentives such as mid-day meals, uniforms, textbooks and stationery, etc., and the availability of school within the habitation—are also quite important. Coefficients of elasticity clearly show that government expenditures and household expenditures do not substitute each other, instead they complement each other. So if the government wishes to mobilise household finances for education, it is important that the government increases its own allocation to education considerably. conversely, and more clearly, if government budgets on education are reduced, household expenditures may also decline resulting in severe under investment in education.EducationRural EducationHousehold Expenditure